Valve



p ,"l936. H. D. HEXAMER El AL 2,052,827

' VALVE Filed May 4, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet l 6/22 6 v/fiIgIX ENTORQ kfwawfae e/z %ATT0R EY. m

Patented Sept. 1, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIQE N. Y., assignors to Excelso Products Corporation, Buffalo, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application May 4, 1935, Serial No. 19,755 20 Claims. (Cl. 277-25) Our invention relates to improvements in valves, and more particularly contemplates an improved valve for drawing off sediment, rust, or other accumulation of solid matter from domestic hot water or other supply systems, through the flow of water or other liquid therein under pressure.

' The invention has for its object to provide a simple, eificient, and reliable device which may be operated to take difierent positions for causing the Washing out or flushing of one side of a system and then the other, and the discharge or by-passing of the liquid from the system, and which must be returned to a normal operating position before the discharge of liquid from the system can be discontinued and normal circulation resumed.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the character specified which is compact and symmetrical in structure, and which may be applied universally to various types of liquid heating systems, irrespective of the relative positions of the tank and heater thereof, and so that the handle or other means for actuating the valve may be operated with facility without interference from contiguous walls or other obstructions.

Other objects will in part be obvious and in part be pointed outhereinafter.

It will be understood that while we have shown and hereinafter described our invention as employed for flushing a hot water system to remove sediment therefrom, that the invention is not limited to such use, but may be employed in any situation where its construction may be desirable or advantageous.

The invention consists in the improved and novel construction of said valve, and the arrangement and aggroupment of the elements thereof in operative combination, to be more fully described hereinafter and the novelty. of which will be particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, to be taken as a part of these specifications, Figure 1 is an elevation of one type of hot water supply system and showing one form of valve constructed according to and embodying our said invention incorporated therein;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged plan view of the valve;

Fig. 3 is an elevation of the valve with parts broken away and partly in section, showing the parts in operating position to permit normal flow in the hot water supply system; v

Fig. 4 is a similar elevation, with parts broken away and partly in section, showing the parts in position for cleaning. out one side of the system;

Fig. 5 is a detail view of one position of the operating or setting means for the valve;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged vertical sectional elevation of the valve, with the parts in position to permit normal circulation in the system;

Fig. 7 is a cross-section showing the parts in position for cleaning out one side of a system;

Fig. 8 is a similar cross-section showing the parts .in position for cleaning out the other side of a system, and

Fig. 9 is another cross-section showing the parts in position for normal operation of the water heating system.

Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawings, we have shown, as one example of a hot water supply system, the storage tank Ill into which cold water is supplied under main pressure through a feed pipe H. The hot water is delivered to the house service system (not shown) through pipe l2. The heat exchange element [3, for example, a. gas-fired heater of well known form, is supplied with cold water from the lower end of tank Ill through communicatively connected supply pipes It and M between which the draw-01f valve l5 embodying our invention is connected. The water after being heated by the heater l3 passes through the outlet pipe it which is connected to the pipe l2, and through the latter to the upper end of the tank I ll.

The valve l5 comprises a substantially cylindrical casing or body I? having alined ports or passages l8 and I 9 adapted to be connected respectively to the storage tank In and the heater l3, by means of the alining nipples 28 and 2! integral with the body l7, and receiving respectively the contiguous ends of the pipes l4 and I4 A drain or by-passing port or passage 22 is provided through a nipple 23 at the lower end of the casing or body l7, and is located substantially in the vertical plane of the nipples 20 and 2i. The inner end of the nipple 23 is formed as an annular valve seat 24 adapted to cooperate with the axially movable drain valve 25, as hereinafter described. The nipple 23 is adapted for the connection thereto of a hose or pipe for carrying away the Water drained from the tank and heater.

The upper open end of the casing I? is closed by a bonnet 26 which has a depending annular flange portion 27 having a threaded engagement with the exterior of, the casing IT. The bonnet 26 includes a transverse wall portion 28 closing the upper end of the casing l1 and serving as an abutment for receiving the thrust of a cylindrical hollow barrel valve member 29 disposed within the casing IT. The barrel valve 29 is provided with a depending axial sleeve 30 in alinement with an opening 3! in the transverse wall 28 through which the stem 32 of the valve 25 passes. The bonnet 25 above the portion 28 has a reduced annular portion 33 disposed about the projecting portion of the stem 32, providing means including a recess 34 for receiving gland between the bonnet and valve stem. A threaded packing nut 55 serves to compress and retain the i packing 35 in place.

The hollow valve member 29. is open at the lower end 31 thereof to place the interior thereof in communication with the drain outlet 22. Diametrically opposite ports 38- and 55 are formed in the lateral wall 55 of the barrel member 29,

which ports when the valve I5 is in one operating position; are adapted to register with'the ports l8 and E9 in the casing H, as shown in Figs; 6'

and 9, to allow normal circulation of the hot water through the system. A drain port 4! is also formed in the wall 55 at a point intermediate the ports 58 and 39and in position to register with either the port is or the port l9, as shown in Figs. 4; 7 and 8. When the drain port 4| is alined with either ports E5 or f9 in the casing H, the imperforate wall portion 55 between ports 38, 35 and opposite to port M, serves to close the opposite ports E8 or [9, asthe case may be.

A coil spring 42 under compression is disposed about the valve stem 32 between'the enlarged valve portion 25' thereon and the lower end 53 of the sleeve 55, and exerts its force expansively to normally maintain the valve 25 seated} and to retain the upper endof the barrel valve 29 in engagement with the transverse wall portion 25.

The valves 25 and 29 are actuated by rotatable and axially movable means, indicated generally at 55. located at the top of the valve body 15. The means ll cooperates with a cam ring 45 secured by screws 55 to the bonnet 26 and about the packing gland means 33. The cam ring 55 includes opposite cam or riser portions 4'5, 58 having the. cam. edges 59, and the cam portions 5? and 8 are separated orspaced apart at each of the contiguous pair of ends thereof to provide the intervening substantially V-shaped. recesses 55 and 5H therebetween- Each of the camedges 59 inclines upwardly at bothends 52, merging in a relatively flatter intermediate dwell portion 53 having a oentralnotch or recess 54 (Fig. 5,) therein for a purpose described hereinafter. The valve actuating means 5 includes an annular actuating member 55 keyed to the upper portion 55 of the. valve stem 32, the valve stem portion 55 and the central hole 51 in the member 55 preferably being of polygonal cross-section, so that rotation of member 55 will rotate the valve stem 32. The member 55 has a depending cam ring portion 58 of a shape corresponding to and complementing that of thefixedcam ring 65, and includes the relatively wide opposite recesses 59 adaptedv to receive and substantially fit the cam portions ll and 58 of the fixed cam ring 45, and the downwardly'projecting opposite tapering cam portions 60 adapted to be received into and substantially fit the recesses 50 and 5l' of the ring 55 when the member 55 is in position for normal operation, as shown in Fig. 3. The member 55 isv retained on the stem 32 to cause axial movement of the stem therewith against the tenpacking 55 sion of the spring 52, by means of a lock-nut 6| threaded upon the stem 32 above the member 55 and retained in place by a cap nut 52, also threaded onto the stem. In order to efiect rotation of the valve 29 by rotation of the member 55 and stem 32, the portion 63 of the stem 32 sliding in sleeve 3.5 of the valve member 29 is keyed thereto, such as by making the interior of the sleeve 35 and the portion 53 polygonal in cross-section (see Fig. 6). r

The member 55 is preferably actuated by a handle 55 integral with said member and affording leverage. A pointer 55 is provided at the opposite side of the member 55 from the handle and in position to cooperate with suitable indicia, words ormeans 65 for indicating, as shown at Fig. 2, the various operative positions of the valve.

In operation, when the handle 66 is rotated clockwise from the position shown at Fig. 2, the cam portions '65 ride upon the complementary cam portions ll and fieto cause the valve 25 to open against the force of the spring 52, the rotation being continued until the points of the cam portions BD'enter the notches 5-5 and interengag'e the same to be retained in place upon the dwell portions 53. When the valve is in this position, the pointer 65 is at the clean heater position, in which the port 5! registers with the port l9 and the port H5 is closed, as shown in Figs. 4 and '7. The flow of water under pressure now reverses direction and scavenges the heater, the liquid being discharged through the drain port 22. When this operationis completed, the handle 54 may be rotated in either direction to bring the pointer 55 to the clean tank position, as shown in Fig. 8, wherein port it! will be open and port l9 closed, to thereby cause the tank IE! to be cleaned and the dirt carrying liquid to be discharged'at'drain port 22. When the handle 65 is rotated to position the pointer 5 5at either operating position the valve 25 is closed by expansion of spring 42 and the ports 38 and 35 register with the ports 68 and E9 to resume normal circulation, as shown in Figs. 6 and 9.

The valve 25 preferably; includes a rubber or composition washerel engaging the valve seat 2 2, the washer being secured in position on the valve 25 by thescrew 53 so as to be readily replaceable. Byiadjustment or backing off of the lock-nuts GI and 52, theste m3 2 is allowed todescend to compensate for wear on'the washer El so that the valve 25 can be always maintained firmly onthe' seat 24 during normal operation of the, system.

The member 55, when the valve '25 is seated, is

35 to insure full closing of'theyalve 25 and pree vent leakage. We are thus able to prolong the use of the washer. ,I I t will be noted serves the purposes that the spring. 52 nothonly heretofore stated. but. also always retained in spaced relation to the cam ring maintains continuous and proper engagement fiiig positions, because of the intervening recesses 55'and 59. This renders the valve of universal application. For example, if. the positions of the .tank Wandheater I3, as shown in.Fig.. 1, .were

reversed, a'room wall or other obstruction might are preferably provided with the flats 56 and 63 respectively, and the openings in the handle 64 and valve member 29 are correspondingly shaped to fit the same. Proper or correct assembly of the parts of the valve is thus insured. The

handle 64 cannot be assembled upon the part 56 in operating position when in fact one or the other of the ports IE3 or I9 is closed by the valve member 29. The handle when assembled must always indicate the true position of the valve, and trouble in the circulating line is thus avoided. To renew the seat washer 61, the bonnet may be unscrewed which will allow the entire valve assembly to be removed.

The valve embodying our said invention is positive in action and may be easily operated like a faucet. The operation of the valve is simple. Turn the handle a quarter turn to the right and then to'the left of "operating position and all the loose sediment and rust in the heater, tank and piping will be washed out through the drain connection 23 at the lower end of the valve l5. When the valve handle is pointed to the word operating on the dial, the valve allows full flow through the circulating conduits, and closes the drain.

What we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A valve comprising a casing having lateral ports in the wall thereof and a drain outlet port at an end thereof intermediate said lateral ports and including a valve seat, control means within said casing movable to a position for placing said lateral ports in communication with each other, and to other positions for placing one or the other of said lateral ports in communication with said drain outlet port and to close off the other of said lateral ports, a valve; member within the casing to be operated with said control means and cooperating with said valve seat and seated thereon when said lateral ports are in communication with each other, and means operative upon actuation of said control means for lifting said valve member from said valve seat whenthe control means is moved'to either of said other positions. 1

2. A valve comprising a casing having ports in the lateral wall thereof and a port at an end thereof, a barrel valve member rotatably disposed within said casing and having ports therein adapted to simultaneously register'with said lateral ports, said valve member also having a port adapted to register with either of said first-named ports, saidbarrel valve. member then closing off the other of said-first-named ports, an axially movable valve member-within said. casing cooperating with the said end port and including a stem keyed to said barrel valve member, an actuating member connected to said stem, and means for imparting an axial movement to said stem upon rotation thereof by said actuating member.

3. A valve comprising a casing having opposing ports in the lateral wall thereof, and a port including a valve seat at an end thereof, a hollow barrel valve member open at an end thereof rotatably disposed within said casing and having opposing ports in the wall thereof adapted'to register with said first-named ports in a certain position of said barrel valve member, and a port in thebarrel valve member intermediate said other ports therein and adapted to register with one of said first-named ports in one position of said barrel valve member and with the other of said firstnamed ports in another position of said barrel valve member, an axially movable valve member cooperating with said seat to close the contiguous port, and actuating means for raising said lastnamed valve member and simultaneously moving said barrel valve member to place said intermediate port in registry with either of said first-named ports in the casing.

l. A valve comprising a cylindrical casing having a pair of main ports therein and a by-passin'g port at the lower end thereof, a hollow cylindrical valve member open at the lower end thereof rotatably disposed within said casing, said member having a pair of ports therein adapted'to register with said main ports in certain of the positions thereof, and said valve member having a port adapted to register with one or the other of said main ports in other positions of said member, said member then closing the remaining main port, an axially movable and rotatable valve member cooperating with the by-passing port and having a keyed connection with said cylindrical member, a spring interposed between said valve members, and actuating means for rotating said cylindrical valve member and axially moving said valve member, said actuating means being operable to open said lower valve member only when either of said main ports is closed.

5. A valve comprising a casing open at an end thereof, said casing having main lateral ports and a by-passing port at the other end thereof, a valve member rotatably disposed within said casing for controlling said main ports, an axially movable and rotatable valve member within said casing for controlling the by-passing port, said last-named means including a stem keyed to said first-named valve member and projecting outside the casing, a spring interposed between said valve members and urging said second-named valve member to close the by-passing port, a bonnet upon said casing and closing the open end thereof, a gland packing disposed upon said bonnet about the projecting portion of said stem, a cam member upon said bonnet, and a cooperating cam member upon said stem and rotatable relative to the firstnamed cam to move said second-named valve to open position.

6. A valve comprising a casing having lateral main ports and a by-passing port at an end thereof including a valve seat, a rotatable member within the casing for controlling said main ports, an axially movable and rotatable valve cooperating with said seat and having a stem keyed to said rotatable member and projecting outside the casing, a fixed cam portion, an actuating member slidably keyed to said stem and including a cam portion cooperating with and engaging said fixed cam portion to operate said valve, and means for removably retaining said actuating member on the stem, said means being adjustable to allow said valve to be fully seated.

7. A valve comprising a casing having main lateral ports and a by-passing port at an'end thereof including a valve seat, a rotatable valve member within the casing for controlling said main ports, an axially movable and rotatable valve member cooperating with said seat: and having a stem slidably keyed to said rotatable member and projecting beyond; the casing; a spring interposed between said valve members and urging said second-named valve member toward said seat, a fixed cam member at the upper end of the valve casing, a cooperating cam member keyed upon said stem, and means upon said stem for retaining said cam member thereon, said last-named means being adjustable to allow said valve to be fully seated by said spring.

8. A valve comprising a casing open at one end and having ports in the side thereof and a bypassing port at the opposite end thereof, a bonnetclosing the open end of said casing, means on said bonnet for receiving packing material, a packing nut for closing saidpacking means, a

a rotatable member within the casing for controlling said side ports, an axially movable valve for controlling said by-passing port and including a stem extending through said rotatable member, said-bonnet, said packing material, and said plug, said stem having a keyed connection with said'rotatable member, a cam portion on said bonnet about said packing means, and an actuating member secured to said stem and including a depending cam portion cooperating with said first-named cam portion and covering said packing means.

9. A valve comprising a casing having lateral ports, and a by-passing port at an end thereof, a rotatable member within the casing for opening both lateral ports in certain of the positions thereof, and for closing one or the'other of the lateral ports in other positions thereof and opening the remaining lateral port, an axially movable and rotatable valve member cooperating with said by-passing port and keyed to said rotatable member, a stationary cam member upon the valve casing, and a complementary cam member upon said stem, said cam members including portions coacting upon relative rotation thereof to open said axially movable valve in the two positions of said rotatable member at which one or the other lateral port is closed.

10. A valve comprising a casing having lateral ports and a by-passing port at one end thereof, a rotatable member within the casing for control ling said lateral ports, an axially movable and rotatable valve member for controlling the Icy-passing port and including astem keyed to said rotatable member, and cam members upon the valve body and stem respectively and cooperating with each other to move said stem axially and rotate said rotatable member upon relative rotation of said cam members, said cam members each including oppositely disposed riser portions and intervening recesses, said Icy-passing valve member being opened in either of two positions of said cam members at which said riser portions engage andbeing closed in either of two positions of said cam members at which the recesses receive the riser portions.

11. A valve comprising a casing having lateral ports and a by-passing port at one end'the'reof, a rotatable member within the casing for oontrolling said lateral ports, an axially movable and rotatable valve member for controlling the bypassingport and including a stem keyed to said rotatable member, cam members. upon the valve body and stem respectively and cooperating with each other to move said stem axially and rotate said rotatable member upon relative rotation of said cam members, said cam members each inpassing valve memberto close said by-passing port.

12. A valve comprising a casing having oppositely disposed ports therein and a by-passing port, a rotatable member within the casing having alined ports therein adapted to register with said oppositely disposed casing ports in either of 7 two positions of said member rotatively apart, said member having an intermediate port adapted to register with either. one or the other of the oppositely disposed casing ports at positions 7 intermediate said 180 apart positions, the remaining casing port then being closed, an axially movableivalve cooperating with said by-passing port and o-peratively associated with said rotatable member, and means for actuating said rotatable member and said axially movable valve, said means including cam portions coacting to close said axially movable valve in both of the 180 apart positions of said rotatable member and to open said valve at both of the intermediate positions of said rotatable member.

13. A valve comprising a casing having normally open ports therein and a by-passing port, a rotatable member for controlling said normally open ports, and adapted to open both or either one of said normally open ports, both of said normally open ports being opened at either-of two positions of said rotatable member rotatively 180 apart, an axially movable valve including a stem for controlling the by-passing port, said stem being key-ed to said rotatable member, and means for actuating said rotatable member and said valve, said means including a stationary cam member having separated riser portions and intervening recesses and a cam member secured to 'said stem and having separated riser portions and intervening recesses, said riser portions coacting 1 to open the axially movable valve in positions of said rotatable member at which one of the normally open ports is closed and the other open and to close said valve in the 180 apart positions of said rotatable member. I

14. A valve comprising a casing having lateral ports and drain port, a rotatable member within the casing for controlling the lateral ports, an axially movable valve member controlling the drain port and including a stern keyed to the rotatable member, a stationary cam member having opposite separated riser portions forming intervening recesses 180 apart, and a complementary cam member including a handle secured to said stem, the riser portions of said cam members engaging upon rotation of the complementary cam member in either direction from either of axially movable valve member therein for controlling the end port and including a stem keyed to said rotatable member to rotate said member, and means for actuating said port controlling members'including a stationary cam ring and a cooperating cam ring secured to said stem, said cam rings each including separated riser portions and intervening recesses, the riser portions of one of said rings having notches therein adapted to engage the riser portions of the complementary ring for retaining the axially movable valve in open position.

16. A valve comprising a casing having opposing lateral ports and a by-passing port at an end thereof intermediate said lateral ports, means within the casing for controlling all of said ports to establish communication between both lateral ports and close said by-passing port in a normal position of said controlling means and to close either one of the lateral ports and open said 'bypassing port in other positions of said controlling means, said controlling means including a rotatable actuator for said several port controlling means, and means for imparting an axial movement to said actuator upon rotation thereof to cause a corresponding opening movement of the by-passing port controlling means upon movement of the actuator to either of the by-pa'ssing positions.

17. A valve comprising a casing having opposing lateral ports and a by-passing port at an end thereof intermediate said lateral ports, and means within the casing for controlling all of said ports to establish communication between both lateral ports and close the by-passing port in a normal position of said controlling means and to close either one of the lateral ports and open said bypassing port in other positions of said controlling means, said controlling means including a hollow barrel valve member within the casing having openings therein disposed to establish at various positions communication between said lateral ports and between each lateral port and said bypassing port, valvular means for said by-passing port, rotatable actuating means for said several port controlling means, and means for imparting an axial movement to said actuating means upon rotation thereof to cause a corresponding opening movement of said by-passing valve upon movement of the actuator to either by-passing position.

18. A valve comprising a casing having opposing lateral ports and a Icy-passing port at one end thereof intermediate said lateral ports, a rotatable port controlling member within the casing establishing in normal position communication between said lateral ports, and movable in opposite directions to close one lateral port or the other, an axially movable valve member within the casing for controlling the by-passing port, and means for imparting an axial opening movement to said valve member upon rotation of said controlling member in either direction from normal position.

19. A valve comprising a casing having opposing lateral ports and a by-passing port at the end thereof intermediate said lateral ports, means for controlling said lateral ports to normally establish communication between the lateral ports, said means being rotatable in opposite directions from normal position to close one lateral port or the other, an axially movable spring controlled valve member for controlling said by-passing port, and cam means for imparting an opening movement to said last-named valve member upon rotation of said controlling means in either direction from normal, said cam means including parts cooperating to interlock in the normal position of the port controlling means.

20. A valve comprising a casing having lateral ports and a by-passing port at the end thereof, a rotatable member Within the casing for establishing normal communication between the lateral ports in either of two positions 180 apart, and movable in both directions from either normal position to close one lateral port or the other in the intermediate positions, an axially movable spring controlled valve member for said by-passing port, and cam means for imparting an opening movement to said last-named valve member upon rotation of the port controlling means in either direction from either normal position, said cam means having parts interlocking in both normal positions to indicate said positions and retain the controlling means therein.

HARRY D. HEXAMER. WILLIAM YAEGER. 

